NEW YORK –– After decommitting from Marquette in the wake of the coaching change, Marial Shayok is considering several options going forward.
“I’m still considering Marquette, still trying to see how I feel about the new coach. Virginia, Indiana and I’m getting some interest from Florida and Michigan,” the 6-foot-7 Shayok told SNY.tv after going for 12 points as the Away team lost to the Home team, 102-99, in the Jordan Regional Game at Barclays Center.
Shayok, out of Blair (N.J.) Academy and the CIA Bounce AAU outfit, has no visits planned, but hopes to decide soon. The late signing period runs April 16-May 21.
Asked when he hopes to decide, he said, “Maybe in the next couple weeks, a week. I don’t know, I’m still trying to figure it out.”
New Marquette coach Steve “Wojo” Wojciechowski has been in touch to try to keep Shayok in the fold at the Big East school.
“I talk to him a lot, I talk to him every other day,” he said. “Still trying to get to know each other.”
He added: “Different program. He feels like he’s going to win very soon, like he’s going to do well with the program and I’ll have a lot of opportunity playing. He just wants me to trust him right now.”
Virginia, a No. 1 seed in the recent NCAA Tournament, was in the mix for Shayok before he chose Marquette in the fall.
“I had a great visit to Virginia and me and coach [Tony] Bennett have a great relationship,” Shayok said.”I love the team and they’re on the right track right now, so that’s good.”
Indiana is another option.
“I’m still getting to know Coach [Tom] Crean,” Shayok said. “I feel they have a great development program. He showed me a lot of tapes on Victor Oladipo coming in and coming out so that was quite interesting.”
Michigan and Florida have also reached out to Shayok, who said he was surprised when Coach Buzz Williams left for Virginia Tech.
“Yeah, it was definitely tough,” he said. “I look at it as a great blessing I guess because now people have multiple scholarships.”
He said Williams has also reached out, but, “I’m not too interested in Virginia Tech.”
